both the Captain and the Crew

    THURSDAY  8/29/19 1:49AM--just got in from JVs...I did three songs as a band leader...pretty good lead vocals, pretty good guitar playing and halfway decent stage presence...folks were friendly...I dunno who the Chump supporters were--except maybe Stoney and Andy (sigh) and the audience couldn't tell if *I* was...the one semi-disaster was screwing up the words to Roy Orbison's OH PRETTY WOMAN..and I fumbled the words to FURTHER ON UP THE ROAD....what I really wanted to do was be a part of the band...suddenly, at some point I was...my guitar playing seemed to impress some people, naturally, that felt good...
          I followed Andy from JVs to the Beltway then proceeded to miss the exit for Darnestown Road--unbelievable...IF Dianne goes out later today to play Mah Jong I might go somewhere...Dunno where...I think James Mabry is hosting the rather unusual FIFTH Thursday at the OTWC...the smart thing to do might be to give my ears a rest...
6:51 AM--Dianne isn't going out and neither am I...and that's OK by me...
8:22 AM--just watched a video featuring someone I used to work with...I was not impressed...her guitar playing is still apparently at a beginner's level, and the percussionist? Never mind...made me feel good about my Musical self--but no less musically lonely...
9:14 AM--in fact, last night's activities only serve to emphasize that...such is Life...I think Dianne and I have major travelling plans for Saturday so going out Friday or Saturday evening doesn't seem likely...
SUNDAY 9/1/19 11:29PM--at one point this afternoon, I thought I had forgotten to go to practice...then I saw a post from Barry on Flakebook and I figured there was no practice scheduled for the Combustibles today after all...Lou wants to go to Hershey's on Wednesday...really gotta put new strings on the acoustic...
MONDAY 9/2/19 10PM--My plan to join Lou at the Hershey's open mic on Wednesday may be kaput...oh well...the band soon to be known as the FULL HOUSE Band has a rehearsal on Wednesday...and I'm still hazy on what we're rehearsing for--the open mic, our debut gig, who knows?
 TUESDAY 9/3/19 5:55 PM--ABC is practicing next Monday for the Silver Spring show...Dave sent me a set list...FULL HOUSE is rehearsing tomorrow, for the open mic I guess...I should be excited, but I'm not..at least not yet...
9:05PM--I've started working on the FULL HOUSE open mic songs AND the keyboard list for the ACME gig...I feel a bit overwhelmed...
10 PM--gonna try to decompress, starting now... 
WEDNESDAY 9/4/19 11:38 AM--when I get up from my theoretical nap, I'll be a Musician again...gonna practice AT LAST a bit...I don't think anyone will mind if I simplify it a teeny bit, as long as Lee doesn't have any trouble singing it...IF anyone will mind, it will likely be her...
3:48PM--played AT LAST a bit, mostly had fun playing other songs...I even ran thru Stoney's latest youTube playlist--on the KEYBOARDS! That was interesting actually...

a tech surprise and a trip to VA

          TUESDAY 8/27/19 11:43AM--Yesterday I started wondering if there was any way to SAVE whatever modifications I make to the hundreds of patches on the YPG-225...and there are dozens of settings that can BE modified...apparently there are two banks with nine positions each...which implies I could have eighteen presets...it took me several minutes to save just one...patches 017 and 187 sound damn near alike, except that 187 was so much quieter than 017...it's rather easy to modify the patches, but the modifications are not permanent unless ya save 'em...maybe it's ultimately easier to do it on the fly and re-do it as needed...
    In any case, I have no idea when and/or where my next Magical Musical Moment(s) will happen...I keep thinking about going to JVs--there's an open mic on Wednesdays...it seems so far away, or I'm spoiled by having open mics fairly close by...
  4:51PM--but that's still the Plan for Wednesday...I'm assuming Andy will be there to play dums, but who knows?
 5:17PM--and naturally, Jackie is hosting at Hershey's tomorrow as well...I see no evidence that the open mic is strictly acoustic, but I still don't quite wanna go--what's the point? to see Jackie? that's like going to a Music store and staring at the wall of guitars...pointless...
 5:45PM--and I don't wanna come up with an excuse for NOT going to Falls Church...it's further away for Andy than it is for me, so I shouldn't complain...
ONE HOUR LATER--gotta figure out what to take to JVs--a guitar, the amp and a pair of stompboxes...hoping to leave at about 7:15 or so, although if I'm lucky it won't take 45 minutes to get there..
8/28/19--it seems to be a rather convoluted process, but I have been able to save a couple of settings on the keyboard...I still think it might be quicker to just make the modifications and make 'em again after ya switch patches, if need be....
   WEDNESDAY 8/28/19 12:46 PM--getting nervous about the trip to JVs...If I'm forced to lead the band, there are two or three songs I think I can do...nervous about the traffic getting there, nervous about getting lost coming home...maybe Andy will let me follow him back to the Beltway...assuming he is the house drummer--I believe he will be...
 1:21PM--I hope to be asleep an hour from now...we'll see...hoping the nap will last until  four o'clock...it probably won't...
6:05PM--went to take a nap at about 1:30...slept restlessly for about an hour...at this point all I have to do is eat Dinner and load the car...should be able to leave around 7:00 or so...

yin and yang, in the same day

          SUNDAY 8/25/19 8:40AM--I guess I'll spend the journey to practice telling myself to ignore the
Combustibles' apparent lack of talent...that's not easy...but maybe it would be better for my blood pressure if nothing else...
11:33AM--I just got a bit of a scare while practicing the keyboards--the batteries died--no sound except a crackling noise...I didn't think of the batteries instantly, but shortly thereafter...it's running on the AC adapter...
8:57PM--it was (IMO) a typical Combustibles practice...I wore earplugs in both ears at first...at some point, I took one of 'em out...the rehearsal ended just after 4PM...so I nervously went to Scott Silverman's house to check out the last of his pool parties...I got there at about 4:40...I saw Mike and Shauna Taylor unloading their car, so I knew I had the location right...the way *I* remember it, Carolyn came in right behind me...Colleen arrived after awhile...I was there about maybe five minutes when I worked up the courage to sneak up to a microphone and add a low part to "The Cover of the Rolling Stone"...Greg Dillon was leading the ad hoc band at the time...We also did LOVES ME LIKE A ROCK...again I sang an improvised low part...we sounded better to me than the Combustibles...
            Eric brought some gear, so whatever guitar parts I played, I played using his stuff..he was also the soundman...the party was still going when I left at about 7-ish...I felt like I accomplished something--maybe the word will spread that "quirky"though I may be, I'm a dammed good guitar player and singer...I hate to admit it, but I needed a little ego stroking...
 MONDAY 8/26/19 7:11--so far I've uploaded two vids from this past Thursday...there's one more...I got permission from both the videographer and the main subject of the video--Jeff Jones...once I get all 3 of them up, I think I can fine tune 'em on the laptop...this Project eats up the juice from the phone though...
8:19AM--all three vids are uploaded; it was surprisingly easy...I wonder if I did something wrong...SLIGHTLY LATER--I checked on Dianne's iPad; I found 'em...thinking that putting up the Elton John song was a bit of a mistake, but what's done is done, right?
   Someone took a vid of me singing  with VOICES THREE--singing LOW notes...it was not bad, IMO...It's on my Flakebook profile page...in other news, I need to go thru the dozens of patches I use on the keyboard and make all their volume levels equal...right now, they're not...for example the sonic gap between the two "rock organ" sounds (017 and 187/190) is huge... 
           

what just happened?

            FRIDAY 8/23/19 1:11AM--just got home from the OTWC...a rather bizarre evening IMO..I got one of my new earplugs stuck in my ear--I guess that's MY fault...It finally came out; but I had help...I'm done with them...my vocal performance of GOIN' MOBILE was better than my instrumental performance...the patch that I created specifically for the song was (IMO) not loud enough...my guitar playing generally sucked, until I sat in with Stu Judd and Jeff Payne that is...that was the most fun I've had playing in months...
         Actually, backing up Andrew Wiley was lotsa fun as well...Angela wasn't there, but I didn't expect her to be...Daryl Davis got up and played, possibly because *I* was not onstage at the time...Had a conversation with a couple of Musicians who said basically what Ray has said--it doesn't matter how YOU feel about your performance or the band's performance--the audience decides...it's their opinion that counts the most...it may be the only opinion that counts...
    We're thinking of calling the band THE FULL HOUSE BAND; we all seem to like that one...
8:43AM--Flakebook seems to be full of positive reactions to last night's festivities...and some very nice things being said about me...frankly, I needed that...
7:00PM--thinking back on last night, I think singing harmony with Jeff Jones may have been my high point...Although backing up Andrew Wiley might have been my best guitar playing of the evening...I really really need to work on my stage presence...thankfully, I was wearing my hat all evening...Several dozen photos were taken--
SATURDAY 8/24/19 5:08PM--I thought about going out tonight, but there's really no band playing nearby  that I'm itching to hear...and I should save my energy for tomorrow's Combustibles practice...

that's messed up, innit?

 
           TUESDAY 8/20/19 12:10PM--I keep learning/working on songs I don't NEED to play...When I kinda figured out TIME AFTER TIME,  I started thinking about Angela..dunno if she'd be impressed or not...probably not...I guess I should practice the ACME stuff, but I don't feel like it...Gotta start working on the 4th Thursday stuff...which involves guitar playing, not the keyboard...there's only one song I really need to work on, thank goodness...
  9:24PM--I need to start working on that one new song for Thursday--it's basically a blues tune, so I shouldn't have too much trouble...hope I didn't just jinx myself...
WEDNESDAY 8/21/19 10:53 AM--I dunno for sure, but I'm beginning to think that the Herbert/Geshen duo is done...I see on Flakebook that Jeff is playing solo gigs...that's the way it is...this is not good for my self esteem...Flakebook is really bad for my MUSICAL  self esteem...am I so unlikable (or ugly) that whatever talent I think I possess isn't enough? is it my political views?
 11:28AM--haven't really started on my 4th Thursday assignment yet...hopefully Barnaby will accept whatever arrangement we come up with...I thought about going out tonight, but right now I don't feel like it...The roomie isn't going anywhere, so she says...and I probably should stay home anyway...I should be listening to Columbus Stockade Blues...
 THURSDAY 8/22/19 8:39AM--suddenly I'm nervous about singing GOIN' MOBILE tonight...I absolutely MUST remember to take a Xanax before I leave tonight...
4:30PM--I'd like to think of myself as a professional Musician, but I sure  don't feel like one when I'm hanging out with the other members of the 4th Thursday Band...but I'll come home with $50..oh boy...in a few minutes I'll go upstairs and practice for awhile...then I'll shave and shower, grab Butterscotch and Ebay and head for the gig...the Plan is to leave at about 6:30 or so...
   9:55PM- my guitar playing leaves a lot to be desired tonight, but my singing is top notch IMO...

what other reason is there?

           SUNDAY 8/18/19 8:27PM--I think the keyboard player in the Combustibles is at the very least impressed with my Musical ability if not downright jealous...He's not a very good  lead singer--he fucks up the words more than Barry does...I think my meager keyboard skills intimidate him...and when it comes to mixing vocals he has (for as long as I can remember) always made my vocals sound like the microphone is wrapped in a beach towel...I don't think I do any lead vocals in the band...I guess Ric doesn't want people complimenting me for my Musical ability...
         I've got to start looking ahead to Thursday...I'll start on my Homework tomorrow...I've spending a lot of time on GOING MOBILE, and almost no time on any other songs...
9:18PM--just heard from Barry...he seems to be as frustrated about Ric as I am...I'll bet he's nowhere near being as depressed as I am about feeling ostracized by the MontCo Music community...it hurts quite a bit, but again, I wonder why it's happening...frankly, I think my being in a band with Barry Fantle is a major handicap, three strikes against me...I'm kinda surprised Brian Chiara plays with us--I bet when asked about being in the Combustibles, he denies it...in fact, I bet nobody even knows he's currently in the Band...
        None of my FB "friends" comes to see us--not Katie or Angela or Ann or Jessica or Coleen or Barry Dwork or Craig or Linda or Gail or Robert or Mona or Greg Dillon or Greg Marsh or Carolyn or Sue or Stoney or Tom Blood or his companion Deb...not Alexia or Michelle or Arlene or George or (thankfully) Karen and Sean...not Bonnie or Jeff Jones or Ethan or Dave or Butch or Lou or Sue Ellen or Lisa (she can't stand Barry) or Andy or John Trupp or Sally or Vadim or either Jeff or Rona or Judy or Lyndy or Stephen ($20 I'll never see) or Mary or Eric or Kennedy or Manny or Bill Bloomer or Bill Mulroney or Dorothy or Emily or...well, you get the picture, I'm sure...
      I'm fairly sure the reason those people don't come to see us, aside from the fact that we don't play in Rockville or G-burg that much is that The Combustibles suck...
MONDAY 8/19/19 9:15 AM--in about FIVE minutes I was able to come up with a half decent replication of the fife(?) solo in CALL ME AL...certainly as good as what Ric has come up with so far...and in about the same amount of time I came up with parts of TIME AFTER TIME--again, a song I don't NEED to learn--unless I get to perform it again with Angela...PS--it's even easier when I transpose it...and yet again, I've almost got the intro for Brian Wilson's ON THE ISLAND from his album PIER PRESSURE...that too took about five minutes...
  10:03AM--I almost screwed up...I had the TRANSPOSE on...so I learned it again, the right way...why? THAT I don't know...
10:56AM--you know what song has been just about the toughest one so far? YESTERDAY, in the original key...
11:17AM--the PENNY LANE trumpet bits at the end of the song? in about FIVE minutes...
12:23PM--MAYBE I'M AMAZED is getting better too...
TUESDAY 8/20/19 7:40AM-- It has belatedly occurred to me why I feel so Musically ostracized--my Political views...

shouldn't have ignored it

     
       FRIDAY 8/16/19 5:11PM--today's KB practice did not go well...I'm OK with that; I DID pretty much ignore it for two or three days...even a two hour gig wipes me out--a little bit...I wasn't gonna be going out tonight, but I'm hoping to go out tomorrow night...even though there's Combustibles practice on Sunday at 3:30 PM...and of course it's time to start prepping for the 4TH Thursday Open Mic...I keep asking Stoney to help me with ONE LINE of MOBILE...I absolutely disagree with what he (and all the various Internet lyric websites) says the lyric is..
11:27PM.--but at some point later in the day, I found out what the lyric actually was...with regard to Sunday's practice, if we have it, fine...if it gets canceled, that's fine too...
SUNDAY (?)  8/18/19 10:16AM--went to the OTWC last night...as I suspected, the band playing was better than any of the (official) bands I'm in now...they made the most out of two guitars, bass and drums...Ric, the Combustibles' keyboard player came in...I guess he didn't recognize me with my hat on...
 12:56PM--in the past, there has been an amp similar to mine in Ric's basement...I've always brought mine just in case it's not there for some reason--but I've left it in the car...today, due to excessive heat and humidity, I'm not bringing the amp...the trunk may be a bit cooler, but not cool enough...I'm gambling on that other amp being there--if it's not, I'll run Butterscotch thru the gizmo...not even gonna worry about the sound I might get...I have no idea when practice will be over...

surprisingly smooth

     THURSDAY 8/15/19 11:38 AM--the gizmo/amp/wireless test went as well as I hoped it would...it's good to know that I won't have to do anymore testing...some guys are coming to work on the deck, but I dunno when, so the nap might not happen...we'll see...
12:39PM--feeling pretty darn happy right now...not getting a nap wouldn't bother me too much...the pants I hope to wear are clean and dry...the shower/shave project shouldn't take more than 30 minutes...There may have been a change in my Dinner plans...I guess I'll go to McDs--they're  faster than Wendy's, even if the food might not be as good...wanna be picking up my Dinner by 5:30...
      4:19PM--as I anticipated, I didn't really get a nap, whether I needed one or not...when I finish watching this particular episode of MASH I will start packing up my stuff--starting with the paperwork...if I need a mic stand, it's already in the trunk, as is the guitar stand...I might be bringing the amp stand, because I'm pretty sure I'm gonna need it, or something to elevate the amp, if only a little...I think the "milk crate" might work and it'll fit better in the car(s)...meaning mine and Mike's...
    I suspect I might have to feed the animals...loading the car comes first, hopefully Dianne will be home at about that time, the SHE can feed 'em...I hope I don't forget the Peppermint Pattie that's in the freezer, or a toothbrush...I hope I remember to take a Xanax before I leave the house...I've already got my ear plugs...I'm not sure why I've been so bent outta shape about this gig...not playing keys is a load off my Mind...Sue Johnstone will be there, for awhile anyway...I've played in front of her before...If the wireless breaks down in some manor, I'll just go back to being attached to my gear...
 FRIDAY 8/16/19 12:05 AM--got home from Mike's almost an hour ago, we carpooled to Greenbelt...I don't think I forgot anything, at the New Deal or Mike's house...ITN sounded better than ACME, but there were problems...some of the tempos were either too fast or too slow...the endings (and some starts) of songs were tentative...some of my mistakes were made because some patches were still quieter than others...I think I fixed some of them while playing...I came home with $60--a complete surprise...the wireless worked all evening long, but I never left the stage...I sang GREEN RIVER, and in a way that I would sound in the car--loose, relaxed...well, I can't keep my eyes open, so good night...
    10:35AM--as I knew he would, Dave thought the band did well--I assume he means Musically...I am successfully fighting the urge to let MY opinion bring me down...I did tell him I thought the tempos were a bit, er, uh, problematic...at some point, I must begin to focus on NEXT Thursday...I've been practicing singing GOIN' MOBILE in my head...I think it's gonna be pretty dammed good...
     

but what about THIS WEEK'S gig?

    TUESDAY 8/13/19 10:34 AM--IF I 'm gonna sing GOING MOBILE at the 4th Thursday show, maybe I should start working on it...on the other hand, the ITN New Deal gig is THIS Thursday...I should go thru the set list and brush up on those songs...it's probably better if I put new strings on Ebay tomorrow...as for keyboard practice, I think I should still do some, maybe after my nap, if I get one...
          11:37AM--just heard from Barry, the Combustibles are practicing on Sunday...it we practiced every day we would probably still suck...
6PM--I put new strings on eBay a little while ago...the high "E" string is causing tuning problems, so I'll use Butterscotch at the New Deal gig and E Bay can be the spare...and some time tomorrow I'm gonna be playing with the gizmo...I plan to write a specific patch for GOING MOBILE...if I can remember how to do that..
        11:16PM--maybe it's because I took the Vyvance this morning at around 10:00, but I'm not sleepy...I might be a teeny bit tired, but I don't feel sleepy--yet....
  WEDNESDAY 7:10AM--Jeff Herbert has a gig this coming this Saturday, very close by...I don't yet know if I'm involved; if I am, fine...if not, that's fine too..
8:25AM--a guy is coming to look at the hole in the deck, after which I'm gonna start working on my Gizmo Project....I think I'm gonna work in the kitchen...I can plug a guitar right into the gizmo and use headphones..I'll run it thru the amp tomorrow...was thinking about replacing the possibly defective tuner on Ebay...not sure if I can buy just one...
    9:10AM--still waiting for the deck fixer guy...getting antsy, I kinda wanna get on with whatever it is I'm gonna do...I believe Dianne told me he was coming BEFORE 10AM...so that's 45 minutes from now...dunno for sure how long he's gonna be here...
 9:37AM--turns out Jeff is playing the Saturday gig solo...I'm OK with that...
12:45PM--the guy showed up, did his thing and left...I guess I'll be doing some gizmo work later this afternoon and tomorrow morning...
4:30PM--other than running the gizmo thru the amp--to check tone and volume levels, I got my "lab work" done...there's a patch for volume swells (9-1) and a patch exclusively for GOIN' MOBILE (9-2)...The swells are good for slow, mushy songs...
5:25PM--it took less than a minute to get the last four synth notes at the end of MOBILE...maybe I shouldn't be, but I'm impressed with myself...
 6:41PM--I wanna go downstairs and do some keys practicing, but I think it's already time to start winding down...so that's what I'm trying to do...I set a reminder for 9AM this morning to charge the wireless system...I didn't hear it, but at about 3 PM, I remembered it...I think I'm gonna leave it in the charger until it's time to pack the gear...
 MIDNIGHT--as far as I can tell, the strings on both guitars are staying in tune...But Butterscotch is still my first choice...
       

that's a shock

                 MONDAY 8/12/19 6:40AM--according to an e-mail I got from Dave, the gig at the New Deal Café is tips only...*I* think that sucks...I wonder if Stoney knows that...or maybe HE'S getting paid...that would REALLY suck...I don't know the guy well enough, but I can't imagine James the Bass player working for free...
    8:30AM--I know it sounds conceited, but I think I'm pretty good at picking up some chord progressions and/or riffs rather quickly...but I'm sooo grateful for the Transpose feature...
            It almost hurts to read some of Dave's e-mails; Like the one I got about an hour ago--"Great practice yesterday. I think we will be in prime form Thursday..." He's GOT to be smoking something before he comes to practice...another thing Thursday's New Deal gig has in common with the Veteran's Plaza gig in September, aside from it also being a freebie is that it's just two hours long...I'm bringing the gizmo and just this instant thought about bringing the wireless...
4:37PM--I put new strings on Butterscotch; it was unusually easy...it seemed to take about 45 minutes, maybe less...tomorrow, I'll...uh, er um...never mind, Dianne is working from home... I'll have to put new strings on eBay within the confines of the living room...I suppose I could wait until Wednesday, but I don't wanna wait until Thursday...
 9:15PM--spent about 30 minutes or so practicing downstairs...completely spontaneously played the hook from an obscure "power pop" song when it came up on the phone--I had set it to "shuffle", but I saw that it was coming...used to see the video on MTV way back in the day...had the cassette and the LP and eventually (I think) the CD--not so sure about that though...BTW, the song is called WHAT'S HE GOT? The CD was a two-fer of the band's two Epic Records albums, I DO think I have it...it's on ebay right now for about $20 bucks...
 9:31PM--dunno why but I'm kinda getting excited about the gig on Thursday...on the other hand I watched the video Dianne took last Friday...it was pretty rough, of course...couldn't put it on FB if I wanted to, and I don't...but like I've said before, ITN is a bit better than ACME...it's probably past time to start winding down, but I'm working on it...

dunno where that came from

              SUNDAY 8/11/19 9:36 PM--I played a solo in some semi-jazz song at practice today...*I* was impressed, I can't remember ever playing a solo like that before...No one else seemed to think it was anything special...I think we'll be playing that song on Thursday in Greenbelt...weird...I do feel a sense of relief about leaving the keyboard home...and that's also true about the 9/17 gig in Silver Spring...it's only a two hour gig, and we don't get paid...and frankly, I'm expecting a large crowd, even though it's a Tuesday evening (?)...as a keyboard player, I dunno if I'd be ready for a large crowd, whatever "large" means...although I could improve quite a bit between now and then...but probably not enough to be relaxed about it...I just hope neither Lee nor Geoff nor Phil will mind NOT having me on keys for the gig...
            I DO kinda wonder how they feel about my keyboard ability at this point in time...Then again, ACME as a unit is not very good IMO...None of the other band members seem to agree with me...
           The ITN is scheduled to play at the OTWC in November...Fortunately I'll be just the guitar player at that gig as well...I will try not to think about how the band will go over with the Derwood crowd...as I've said before, we're only a little better than The ACME Band Company...and not as good as the 4th Thursday Band...Once I loosen up (which is never easy, but does happen) I'm a better singer than Dave, I think...As for Lee, her Flakebook profile says she studied Music at the U of MD...that doesn't mean she passed the class (or classes) and HER ear for Music doesn't appear to be as good as mine...she is terrible at harmonies, as far as I can hear...
  10:49PM--It may be a Gov't Project, but I'm hoping to put new strings on both electrics...It felt good using Butterscotch at practice...I didn't like the sound I was getting though, even thru the gizmo--until, right before the last song of the day, I switched to Memory Mode (U1) and then it sounded pretty good...better late than never I often say... 

the moment of Truth

FRIDAY 8/9/19 5:40- at this point in time, I am on schedule if not slightly ahead of it…traffic notwithstanding, I should be at Lahinch by 6:30...
       I arrived at the gig before 6:30… I kinda forgot there’s an opening act of sorts; traditional Irish music… so most of my equipment is out in the car getting “warm”-hadn’t planned on that…not good I suppose...oh well...
SATURDAY 8/10/19 2AM--the gig went as well as I figured it would--I still think we were not all that good...My guitar sounded pretty good thru the Stagg...the "piano" did not IMO...but the organ sounded good, as did the strings...maybe using the gizmo with the KB isn't such a good idea...I need to run some more tests...the used case I bought for the YPG-225 came with a manual for the YPG-235...the manuals seem 98% identical to me...*I* can't find a major difference in the two models--yet...and it IS nice to have a paper manual I can refer to quickly if I need to...
      8:06AM--Somewhat unsolicited, Dianne offered the opinion that Geoff isn't a very good guitarist...I think he's OK, he just needs to get outta that Dead Head frame of Mind that he always seems to be in...I can only guess that he uses a certain substance occasionally...I think Dave does too...I almost hope so, it would explain why HE'S not the best male singer I've ever worked with... one of the members of the audience was a guy I hadn't seen in awhile...he was/is in a band with some folks I know, including (naturally) a very attractive (married) woman...
        I'm recovering from the gig today and not expecting to go out tonight, but there's an ITN practice tomorrow@ 1PM...kinda looking forward to that...
SUNDAY 8/11/19 5:15PM--so ITN had practice...I refuse to believe that my ears are deceiving me...oh well...Mike, Dave and I hatched a plan regarding the ACME Veterans Plaza gig on Tuesday 9/17/19...we decided that maybe it would be an all guitar show, for a couple of reasons...it's only a two hour gig, and we won't be getting paid...me and my guitar gear are hitching a ride with Mike...all DAVE has to do is remember to put as few KB songs on the set list as possible...there was a time when I/we played w/o 'em...I just think ACME is a bit better having me playing some keys...if I was as good on keys as Stoney seems to be, maybe I'd wanna bring 'em...
       In early November (the 8th or 9th) ITN is playing at the OTWC...eventually I will be a nervous wreck, but not for a couple of months...
          And I just spontaneously figured out SEPARATE WAYS by Journey on the keys...*I* find it damn near amazing...too bad I keep figuring out songs I don't need to know...like both the piano intro arpeggio AND the "string" arpeggio in LOVE REIGN O'ER ME by the Who...took maybe five minutes to get 'em both...
12:08PM--and I got the sax intro to FREEDOM RIDER by Traffic, in a bit less than ten minutes...

it makes a diffrence

     WEDNESDAY 8/7/19 4:32PM--I tried out the MAYBE I'M AMAZED riff on a (kinda) real piano at Litz...it IS easier to play on the Yamaha...I might have to create chord charts for some ACME songs on my own...have no idea how I'm gonna accomplish that...
     6:54PM--and yet I did it! TWILIGHT TIME  and  AT LAST...I think they're BOTH on the set list for Friday...I'll start working on them in earnest tomorrow after the cleaning ladies leave...hopefully by 10:30 or so...
THURSDAY 8/8/19 7:30AM--I have music-type stuff to do after everybody has been here and gone...I have no idea when that will be...if it was up to me, everybody would be gone before Noon...
4:05PM--everyone WAS gone by Non...and I have done absolutely NOTHING...It feels like the other members of the ACME Band wouldn't know the difference between a performance of a song I practiced for days/weeks and a performance of a song I had hardly practiced at all...that kinda bothers me, more than a little...in other words, I'm not gonna knock myself out working on TWILIGHT TIME or AT LAST, I don't think the other members of the band would know the difference--except maybe Lee...someone with her (alleged) ability who can't hear harmonies? ludicrous if ya ask me...
             Because of my apathetic attitude, having gotten NOTHING done today, I strongly suspect I'm gonna be very busy tomorrow...I should probably make a list...
6PM--worked on those two schmaltzy songs...I think I'll be OK...and like I said, who's gonna notice? The plan is to run the guitar/gizmo/Stagg test sometime tomorrow, but unless it sounds almost amazing, I probably won't use it for the guitar...I haven't found the exact answer to my question online yet...IF I run the test at all, I'll my ears decide...
   6:29PM--I forgot that there's an acoustic open mic in the Kentlands tonight...by the time I finished dinner and got presentable the open mic would be almost halfway over...and of course, I don't really feel like it...
FRIDAY 8/9/19 6:38AM--Maybe I'm wrong, but it feels like I've got too much to do today...maybe I should make a list, but in the time it would take to make a physical/written list, I could be almost halfway through it...skipping the gtr/gizmo/Stagg test would make Life a LOT easier...but I'd hate to find out that, if I'm playing keyboards at a gig, the gizmo/Stagg combination could replace the guitar amp if need be--maybe...
 8:19AM--practice is coming along fine, and this way the kb is already upstairs...I shouldn't be too concerned about tonight's gig, nobody I know is gonna be there...Jessica has been known to go there, but she won't be there tonight...at 9AM I have to decide if (and where) I wanna do the gtr./gizmo/Stagg test...ultimately, everything has to end up in the living room, so that's probably where the test will take place...after my brief nap...
 12:16 PM -- found an easier way to play the intro to AT LAST, if I have to play it...I used that piano chord chart book I bought from Pritchard...I'm guessing I  won't have to...and I still say that most of the rest of the members of the group wouldn't know if I played it perfectly...and THAT'S a bummer...but I'm gonna try really really hard to ignore what I feel are their  inadequacies...could/should be napping by 1:30...IF I do the TEST, it shouldn't take more than 20 minutes...
      I think I'll know right away whether or not I'm getting the sound I want outta whatever gear I use...
4:35PM--actually, it took awhile, but, IMO, the Stagg will work as a substitute for the Blues JR. using the ME-70 is probably the reason...I'm taking the Blues JR. anyway, because the way this day has been going, if I don't I'll wish I had...

it's not worth THAT much trouble, is it?

        TUESDAY 8/6/19 7:36 AM--I'm not yet looking forward to ACME practice, considering how much stuff I'm taking with me...and there's even more stuff to take to the gig on Friday...I might not get to it today OR tomorrow, but I'm curious to hear what my guitar would sound like thru the powered speaker...
 4:53PM--and now I know...if I use my EQ foot pedal it sounds fair...I suspect it would sound even better thru the gizmo...if I don't try that tomorrow, I'll try it on Thursday...the powered speaker itself doesn't exactly have reverb, but the gizmo does...according to the e-mail I got from Mike, the Peavey is still available for me to use...I don't think I'll take the gizmo to practice, but I'll definitely use it at the gig...
  ...and I think it would look rather amateurish to bring the keyboard to a gig in trash bags...I feel as though I must get something before Friday afternoon...and I feel like my only option is to go to Litz and (sigh) buy a bag to carry it in...using the Litz charge card...and now it's raining...ready or not I'm leaving the house at 6:10-- hopefully...
6:03PM--if I have MY way, I'll leave the keyboard at home...it's raining, and I've heard thunder...somebody up there really doesn't like me...
11:17PM--of course, I took the keyboard...some tense moments regarding how to sing harmonies, and how much more the audience's opinion matters than that of the other band members or even myself...I hope to do some further "testing" on Thursday, just for the hell of it...ultimately, I think I'll be transporting both the amp and the Stagg to the gig...dunno if I'll need the amp stand or not...
WEDNESDAY 8/7/19 8:21AM--I refuse to believe my ear for Musical quality is in any way broken...four musicians say the band sounds good...*I* know better...frankly I think two of the band members smoke wacky tobacky on their way to practice...Lee, the female singer kinda implies that she possesses better than average Musical ability--she says she can read Music...she also admits she's not good with harmony--THAT I believe... 
       If I'm not gonna lose ALL my marbles, I'll just have to somehow learn to ignore what my ears tell me...and, as a Musician friend told me, it's what the audience thinks that matters the most--even if they have tin ears...which is often the case...9:17AM--I'm up to 120 BPM when it comes to the MAYBE I'M AMAZED riff...the tempo of the orginal recording of the song is about 150BPM...the song IS on the ACME wish list, but that doesn't mean we're ever gonna do it...but I'm gonna keep using that is a challenge...eventually it won't be...but maybe I should learn the right way to play a scale... 
   11:37AM--I lucked out at Litz--got a used keyboard bag for not quite $40...it may be a teeny bit big, but I'm keeping it...maybe tomorrow I'll run the keyboard thru the gizmo and into the powered speaker...unlike today, I don't think Dianne is working from home...she says she's going out tomorrow night...I dunno if *I* am...

the things we do for...what?

    THURSDAY 8/1/19 4:10PM--I'm learning  a song Barry wants to play tonight...it's not his, so perhaps for that reason  it's a bit challenging...let's just say I'll be glad when the night is over...especially when (IF) Barry and I discuss my future with the Combustibles...
    The keyboard practice sessions have a new location--the living room...I can put the KB on the coffee table and sit on the sofa...or (maybe) sit in "my chair" and put the KB on the "guest chair"--so as not to disturb the dog and/or cat...
     9:40PM-two sets with Barry down, one (?) to go...I had nothing else to do this evening, but I wish I had tried to FIND something else to do...
  FRIDAY 12:03AM--The Café was empty by 10PM if not earlier...I hung around until about 11:30 then went to Safeway and got fudgesicles--so I won't have to go later this morning... I don't think I've got anything Musical going later tonight...or tomorrow or Sunday, unless I'm forgetting something--and that's always a possibility nowadays...
    7:18AM--Dunno when, but I expect to be KB practicing in the living room later...I kinda forgot about the portable CD player/radio in the living room--a souvenir from my janitor job days...If I suddenly get in the mood to play...I wish Dave (the ACME Band Co.) hadn't made such a big deal outta my playing keys at our gig at Lahinch next Friday...thank Heaven it wasn't an FB post...it was just an e-mail sent to about 40 people...
  10:45AM--there is a photo of me and Barry from last night's open mic...the hat makes all the difference...
  3:55PM--so I did some more keyboard practicing with my iTunes Library and phone...it went well enough...the idea was to play songs I'd never play keys on before...I wasn't half bad IMO...at some point (SOON) I gotta start working on the ACME Band Co. songs--whatever they are...
    SATURDAY (?) 8/3/19 8PM- just got done doing some more keyboard practice… I’ve never played SHOW ME THE WAY by Peter Frampton before but it went well enough... there were others that I have never played before either and they didn’t sound half bad... of course, I was by myself, no one around watching/listening to me... it’s kinda like when I’m in the car singing and no one’s listening-if I could sing like that in public, I'd be in a well-known working band...and yeah, I might not have the reputation I think I have...I did a bit of that at the 4th Thursday open mic a week or so ago, singing the last verse of MY BACK PAGES...
   SATURDAY 7:30PM (?) Suddenly I decided to go to the OTWC... I wonder if I made a mistake...forgot the ear plugs...the good news is I’m not in front of the bands -I’m alongside them...I think the Bass is too loud...
10:12PM-the “headliners” are pretty good and not (yet) as loud...
MIDNIGHT--just got home...wanna be in bed just after 12:30AM...
SUNDAY 1:43PM--just finished Lunch...I went to the Crosby movie by myself...I left Bethesda at a few minutes after Noon...I kinda wanna get on with keyboard practice, and I might after my nap, however long it may last...I'll likely work in the basement...but I need to get serious tomorrow and Tuesday...somewhat suddenly, I'm a bit worried about AT LAST...so I expect to do my practicing in the living room on Monday...